Preparing for your next doctor's visit?
Have you ever left an appointment and realized you forgot to discuss an MS symptom?
Register for My Conversation Starter.
Request your Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) MS therapy Information Kit
This kit is filled with information to help you and your doctor discuss whether this proven treatment might be right for you.
Talking To Your Doctor about Multiple Sclerosis
Which relapsing MS treatment is right for you?
When considering a relapsing MS therapy, you may want to ask your doctor the following questions:
- Has it been proven to modify all 3 key measures of MS disease activity: progression of disability, reduction of relapses, and reduced the development of new brain lesions as seen on MRI?
The exact correlation between MRI findings and the current or future clinical status of patients, including disability progression, is unknown.
- Has it been proven to work better than another MS therapy in a head-to-head clinical study?
- Does it have a well-established safety profile?
- Does it offer features designed for convenience?
- Will there be support for me when I take the therapy?
Tips for better communication with your doctor
Do you ever struggle to recall the details of your MS symptoms when your doctor asks? Have you ever left an appointment and realized you forgot to discuss a particular MS symptom? Are you confused or intimidated by some of the language your doctor uses to discuss your test results or details about your MS?
The average appointment with a neurologist lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, and the time goes by quickly. If you enter the doctor's office with a specific agenda in mind, then you'll have a better chance of leaving the office with a sense of accomplishment.—Jennifer Smrtka, MS, APRN-BC, ANP. Jennifer Smrtka is sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc.
Here are some ideas to help make conversations about MS with your doctor more productive:
- Bring a friend with you. It can help to have another person listening to what your doctor is saying and taking notes to help you remember the details later.
- Write your questions down ahead of time, and refer to them during your appointment—and take notes if you want to.
- Don't be afraid to ask your doctor or the nurse to explain anything you don't understand, or for help if you need it.
- Try not to downplay your symptoms or feelings. Remember, the people on your health care team are experts in caring for people living with relapsing MS—try to tell them exactly how you are doing.
- Keep all your medical records (appointment notes, invoices, test results, treatment journal, etc.) in one place, like a binder, so you can refer to them quickly and easily if needed.
You may also find it useful to assess how you're doing a few days before your next appointment. Become a member and use the simple interactive tool, My Conversation Starter, to create a report that you can print and take with you to your next appointment.
Call MS LifeLines® toll-free for more support at 1-877-447-3243.
Indication
- Rebif is used to treat relapsing forms of MS to decrease the frequency of relapses and delay the occurrence of some of the physical disability that is common in people with MS.
- Rebif is not approved for treatment of chronic progressive MS.
- Rebif is available in 22 mcg and 44 mcg prefilled, preassembled syringes and a titration pack by prescription only.
Important Safety Information
Before beginning treatment, patients should discuss with their doctor the potential benefits and risks associated with Rebif.
Let your doctor know:
- If you have a history of depression, seizures, liver disease, thyroid problems, or blood cell count or bleeding problems, or if you have had previous allergic reactions to medications.
- About all medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Rebif and other medicines may affect each other, causing serious side effects.
- Before you take any new medicines.
Rebif is not recommended for women who are or plan to become pregnant.
Potential serious side effects of Rebif include:
- Depression and risk of suicide
- Liver problems
- Risk to pregnancy
- Injection-site problems
- Severe allergic reactions. Allergic reactions are rare and may be associated with difficulty in breathing and loss of consciousness, which require immediate medical attention.
The most common side effects with Rebif are:
- Injection-site reactions
- Flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, muscle aches, tiredness)
- Depression
- Abdominal pain
- Increased liver enzymes
- Blood cell count decreases
Let your doctor know if you have any of these symptoms or feel sad, tired, hot or cold, or experience hives, rashes, bruising, yellowing of the skin, or a change in body weight (gain or loss).
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
This information is not intended to replace discussions with your doctor. For additional information about Rebif, please consult the Prescribing Information and Medication Guide and talk to your doctor. You can also call toll-free 1-877-44-REBIF (1-877-447-3243). Rebif is available by prescription only.
MS LifeLines is an educational support service for people living with MS and their families. MS LifeLines and MS LifeLines Ambassadors are sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. Speakers and MS LifeLines Ambassadors who participate in Talk MS or in live events are sponsored by EMD Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc. UNIQUELY [you] is a service mark of EMD Serono, Inc. or its affiliates. Rebif, Rebiject II and MS LifeLines are registered trademarks and the Rebif logo is a trademark of EMD Serono, Inc. or its affiliates.
Brought to you by EMD Serono, Inc. and Pfizer Inc, the co-marketers of Rebif® (interferon beta-1a) in the US.
This information is intended only for residents of the United States.
Copyright © 2011 EMD Serono, Inc. All rights reserved.
EMD Serono, Inc., One Technology Place, Rockland, MA 02370
